Plant diversity, animal diversity and ecosystem diversity in the wetland were studied with field investigation and statistical analysis, and then biodiversity of Chen Lake wetland was also valued. The results showed t...Plant diversity, animal diversity and ecosystem diversity in the wetland were studied with field investigation and statistical analysis, and then biodiversity of Chen Lake wetland was also valued. The results showed that the reasonable utilization and protection for biodiversity of Chen Lake wetland gave important contribution to improving the regional environment and sustainable development of Wuhan, and even the middle-lower Yangtze area.展开更多
lbex (Capra ibex), a first grade protected animal, has not been well studied in China. Surveys were conducted to investigate the distribution of the ibex in the Tomur National Nature Reserve during October--November...lbex (Capra ibex), a first grade protected animal, has not been well studied in China. Surveys were conducted to investigate the distribution of the ibex in the Tomur National Nature Reserve during October--November 2004, July 2005, and October-December 2005. The results were as follows: (1) Out of five valleys, the ibex was distributed in the Qiong-Tailan, Keqik-Tailan, and Muzart Valleys: (2) Ibexes were not observed in the Tomur Valley and Kuzbayi Valley in our surveys, but interview investigations indicated that they may be found here as well. Our results indicated that the nature reserve as a whole is in the distribution range of ibex and it plays an important role in protecting ibex and the alpine biodiversity. However, the uneven distribution pattern can be due to human activities. Therefore, the management of the reserve needs to be improved in the future.展开更多
We analyzed the distributional patterns of95 selected species of leptosporangiate ferns inhabiting the Mexican Mountain Component, using grid-cells of one geographical degree as unit areas,applying endemism indices an...We analyzed the distributional patterns of95 selected species of leptosporangiate ferns inhabiting the Mexican Mountain Component, using grid-cells of one geographical degree as unit areas,applying endemism indices and richness and beta diversity analyses.Distributional data were obtained from several herbaria and specialized literature.Five grid-cells appear to be important for fern species richness, as they contain 35 to 49 species.These gridcells are located in the Sierra Madre Oriental(SMO),Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt(TMVB) and the Sierra Madre del Sur(SMS).Mean richness by latitudinal belts of one degree showed that the belts with highest values are related to the TMVB and SMS.A total of 13grid-cells were recognized as important from theperspective of endemism; most of them are located also in the SMO, TMVB and SMS.The richest gridcells coincided with one of the main centres of endemism for ferns obtained in this study, located in the convergence of the southern part of the SMO, the eastern portion of the TMVB and the northern part of the SMS, reflecting the high humidity existing on the mountain slopes facing the Gulf of Mexico.Some important grid-cells recognized from richness and endemism analyses coincide with Mexican Natural Protected Areas.The beta diversity analysis showed a low degree of similarity among grid-cells, implying a high species replacement, as the result of environmental heterogeneity occurring in the Mexican mountain systems.On the other hand, the spatial analysis suggested a pattern of phytogeographical regionalization comprising twomain areas: the Mexican Transition Zone and the Mexican Central Plateau.Ferns play an important role in the Mexican biodiversity and contributing to the beta diversity of Mexico.展开更多
The changes of vegetation compositions, plant species diversity, species important value and succession of plant community were studied on waste dumps in Haizhou opencast coalmine which is located in the west of Liaon...The changes of vegetation compositions, plant species diversity, species important value and succession of plant community were studied on waste dumps in Haizhou opencast coalmine which is located in the west of Liaoning Province, China (41°41(-42°56( N, 121°1(-122°56(E). Four kinds of terraces with different ages (5, 10, 20 and 40 years) were selected for investigation of plants. Total of 63 species of natural colonized plants were recorded on the waste dump and they belong to 23 families. The main families were Compositae (15 species), Fabaceae (11 species) and Leguminosae (8 species), which accounted for 54.0% of total species and play an important role in natural vegetation recovery in waste dump area. The dominant species on 5-, 10-, 20-, 40-year-old terraces were Tribulus terrestris + Echinochloa hispidula + Salsola collina, Echinochloa hispidula + Artemisia sieversiana + Artemisia scoparia, Echinochloa hispidula + Clinelymus dahuricus + Artemisia scoparia + Artemisia sieversiana + Melilotus officinalis, Clinelymus dahuricus+Phragmites communis + Echinochloa hispidula+ Setaria viridis, respectively. According to the important value of species calculated. It is determined that Tribulus terrestris can act as pioneer species on waste dump and Clinelymus dahuricus, Phragmites communis and Echinochloah hispidula are important dominant species in vegetation restoration in Haizhou opencast coalmine. The study results can provide scientific basis for selecting and disposing appropriately plant species and rehabilitating vegetation on waste dumps of coalmine.展开更多
The Sanjiang Plain is a vast area of alluvial floodplains and low hills in northeast Heilongjiang Province. It is the largest tract of wetlands in China and East Asia outside of Siberia. 28 wetland nature reserves exi...The Sanjiang Plain is a vast area of alluvial floodplains and low hills in northeast Heilongjiang Province. It is the largest tract of wetlands in China and East Asia outside of Siberia. 28 wetland nature reserves exist on the Sanjiang Plain, and three of them have been listed as wetlands of international importance to water bird conservation by the Ramsar Convention Bureau. The wetlands of Sanjiang Plain are noteworthy for its rich biodiversity, but they continue to decline in area and deteriorate in quality currently. The main threats or constrains, immediate cause, root cause and required response are analyzed in this paper, and the four aspects opinion such as improvement of watershed management, enhancement of protection and restoration of habitats and biodiversity, alternative livelihoods of rural residents living in and near natural wetland reserve, and reinforcement of capacity building of natural reserves are brought forward as the effective measures for the Sanjiang Plain wetland protection.展开更多
Xishuangbanna is a multinational region and different ethnic groups have self-owned traditional ways of protecting biodiversity, represented by Dragon Moun-tain and Hil Cemetery, and Temple Forest. As population incre...Xishuangbanna is a multinational region and different ethnic groups have self-owned traditional ways of protecting biodiversity, represented by Dragon Moun-tain and Hil Cemetery, and Temple Forest. As population increases and economy develops, people’s consciousness of traditional culture is fading and both of the number and area of sacred natural sites underwent changes, undermining the role of sacred natural sites playing in biodiversity protection, especial y for species pro-tection and gene exchange.展开更多
In this paper, we assessed the ecological and biodiversity status in the Bohai Sea through a quantitative survey on mac-rofaunal community at 25 stations in Laizhou Bay and adjacent waters in the autumn of 2006.We tes...In this paper, we assessed the ecological and biodiversity status in the Bohai Sea through a quantitative survey on mac-rofaunal community at 25 stations in Laizhou Bay and adjacent waters in the autumn of 2006.We tested the robustness and effectiveness of taxonomic distinctness as an ecological indictor by analyzing its correlation with species richness and natural environmental variables and by analyzing other ecological indicators (Shannon-Wiener H' and W statistics from Abundance Biomass Comparison curve).Results so obtained indicated that the benthic environment of the study waters in general is not under major impact of anthropogenic disturbance, but some stations in Laizhou Bay and along the coast of the Shandong Peninsula and even in the central Bohai Sea might be moderately disturbed and showed signs of ecological degradation.The taxonomic distinctness measures △+ and Λ+ were independent of sampling effort and natural environment factors and were compliant to other ecological indicators.Further application of the taxonomic distinctness indicator to assess marine biodiversity and ecosystem health on a larger regional scale with historical data seems promising.展开更多
Contrast with artificial environment, the multi-level self-organizational system of nature has great gain. Sustain-able material environment should respect nature: non-rubbish and super-cycle quality of natural ecosys...Contrast with artificial environment, the multi-level self-organizational system of nature has great gain. Sustain-able material environment should respect nature: non-rubbish and super-cycle quality of natural ecosystem offers the material source of human development, fractal structure of nature offers new field of space and information source to this high-density and information-based society, dissipative structure of nature links the new system of energy with whole ecosystem organi-cally, and life-chain regulation is the base of sustainable life environment. Nature guarantees the physical healthy environ-ment by its all-dimension healthy factor, constructs the mental healthy environment by its quality of co-ordinate and chaos, so that guarantees the whole emergence of sustainable develop-ment on the 'super-science' level. In the view of sustainable development, construction, green economy and human health are basic fields. With the concept of ecosystem regulation, we can relate these fields organically and fulfill the task of human health, welfare and sustainable development. Ecosystem regulation is the base of sustainable development's new para-digm.展开更多
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases and its prevalence is likely to reach epidemic proportions.According to the"two-stage hypothesis"proposed for the pathophysiol...Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases and its prevalence is likely to reach epidemic proportions.According to the"two-stage hypothesis"proposed for the pathophysiology of NAFLD,insulin resistance,oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines are among the key promoters of the disease. Here,ginger has been hypothesized to prevent NAFLD or blunt its progression via several mechanisms,such as sensitizing insulin effects,activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγwhich induces adiponectin and down-regulates pro-inflammatory cytokines,changing the balance between adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-αin favor of adiponectin,promoting considerable antioxidant effects and antidyslipidemic properties,and reducing hepatic triglyceride content which can prevent steatosis.The aforementioned mechanisms imply that ginger possesses interesting potentials for serving as a natural supplement for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.Therefore,conducting trials to explore its benefits in clinical practice is greatly recommended.展开更多
The establishment of nature reserves is a key approach for biodiversity conservation worldwide. However, there is a lack of unified methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of nature reserves, particularly in China, ...The establishment of nature reserves is a key approach for biodiversity conservation worldwide. However, there is a lack of unified methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of nature reserves, particularly in China, the world′s most populous nation supporting some of the most valuable biodiversity hotspots in the world. In this study, we conducted a long-term and large-scale analysis of the effectiveness of 20 of the earliest nature reserves established in Hainan Province, an island home to among the highest concentration of plants and animals in China. Remote sensing imagery from 1988, 1998, and 2008 were analyzed to investigate the temporal and spatial changes of natural forests in these nature reserves and surrounding areas. We also conducted transition matrix analysis and principle component analysis to identify the driving factors that affect the protection effectiveness of nature reserves. The results were as follows: 1) During the 20-year period from 1988 to 2008, natural forests coverage of the 20 studied nature reserves dropped 2.34 percentage points, whereas the natural forests coverage dropped 11.31 percentage points in a 0–5 km outside reserve buffer and 9.36 percentage points in a 5–10 km outside reserve buffer, indicating a significant inhibitory effect of the nature reserves on the loss of natural forests. 2) Natural forests coverage dropped in 60% of the studied nature reserves during the 20-year period, suggesting a poor protection effectiveness of these reserves, while the coverage proportion showed some increase(0%/yr–5%/yr) in other reserves. 3) Expansion of rubber and pulp forests as part of a booming economy were the main factors affecting the effectiveness of the nature reserves for conserving natural forests in Hainan Province. The results of this study provide an important empirical basis for the protection of natural forests in Hainan Province, which can be used as a blueprint for nature reserve evaluation in other places in China.展开更多
The changes of microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) and microbial community in the topsoil of the abandoned agricultural land on the semi-arid Loess Plateau in China during the natural succession were eva...The changes of microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) and microbial community in the topsoil of the abandoned agricultural land on the semi-arid Loess Plateau in China during the natural succession were evaluated to understand the relationship between microbial community and soil properties. MBC and MBN were measured using fumigation extraction, and microbial community was analyzed by the method of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). The contents of organic C, total N, MBC, MBN, total FAME, fungal FAME, bacterial FAME and Gram-negative bacterial FAME at the natural succession sites were higher than those of the agricultural land, but lower than those of the natural vegetation sites. The MBC, MBN and total FAME were closely correlated with organic C and total N. Furthermore, organic C and total N were found to be positively correlated with fungal FAME, bacterial FAME, fungal/bacterial and Gram-negative bacterial FAME. Natural succession would be useful for improving soil microbial properties and might be an important alternative for sustaining soil quality on the semi-arid Loess Plateau in China.展开更多
As a consequence of global warming and rising sea levels, the oceans are becoming a matter of concern for more and more people because these changes will impact the growth of living organisms as well as people's livi...As a consequence of global warming and rising sea levels, the oceans are becoming a matter of concern for more and more people because these changes will impact the growth of living organisms as well as people's living standards. In particular, it is extremely important that the oceans absorb massive amounts of carbon dioxide. This paper takes a pragmatic approach to analyzing the oceans with respect to the causes of discontinuities in oceanic variables of carbon dioxide sinks. We report on an application of chemical, physical and biological methods to analyze the changes of carbon dioxide in oceans. Based on the relationships among the oceans, land, atmosphere and sediment with respect to carbon dioxide, the foundation of carbon dioxide in shell-building and ocean acidification, the changes in carbon dioxide in the oceans and their impact on climate change, and so on, a vital conclusion can be drawn from this study. Specifically, under the condition that the oceans are not disturbed by external forces, the oceans are a large carbon dioxide sink. The result can also be inferred by the formula: C=A-B and G=E+F when the marine ecosystem can keep a natural balance and the amount of carbon dioxide emission is limited within the calrying capacity of the oceans.展开更多
The impact of human activity on biodiversity is very complicated, making it difficult to design practical indicators for assessment.Currently,state and response indicators are listed within Chapter15 of Agenda21,but n...The impact of human activity on biodiversity is very complicated, making it difficult to design practical indicators for assessment.Currently,state and response indicators are listed within Chapter15 of Agenda21,but no mention is made of driving force indicators and how they relate to biodiversity protection. This paper repre- sents an effort to identify and then operationalize the idea of driving force indicators at national level.Five human induced factors affecting biodiversity were discussed: (a) habitat loss and fragmentation; (b) overexploitation of resources;(c)species introduction;(d)pollution;and (e) climate change. From these five factors, a subsetwas selected to serve as possible driving force indicators:(1)habitat loss, (2)the ratio of exotic species to indigenous ones, and (3)the change in pollution status. Although the three indicators are relatively simple,they coverthe most important human impacts on biodiversity and offer the potential for further redefinition and ultimate use within the spirit of biodiversity protection.展开更多
In view of the fact that climate-related disasters are already taking a heavy toll, causing massive damage to crops and infrastructure and forcing some people to flee their homes, however, the potential impacts of cli...In view of the fact that climate-related disasters are already taking a heavy toll, causing massive damage to crops and infrastructure and forcing some people to flee their homes, however, the potential impacts of climate change are likely to trigger adaptive responses that influence environmental and socio-economic drivers of food system performance in positive as well as negative ways. This paper was conducted through the collection of some research materials with the projected balance of these various climate impacts on food system performance and food security outcomes at the local and global levels. More so that, food security is likely to be affected by climate change in several ways: food security depends not only on the direct impact of climate change on food production but also on its indirect impact on human nutrition and health, economic growth, trade flows and food aid policy. The paper further examined the effectiveness of managing new risks and uncertainty, improving the quality of information and its use, monitoring weather and improving scientific understanding of climate change, promoting insurance schemes, maintaining biodiversity and access to fund as some of the crucial measures for adaptation. The large amount of resources that would be necessary to avoid the worst case scenario suggests the necessity of continued support from the international community to improve food security at the local and global levels as a whole.展开更多
This paper examines the role and effectiveness of locacal institutions in the management of forest biodiversity in New Dabaga-Ulongambi Forest Reserve, Tanzania. Data were obtained through questionnaires, interviews, ...This paper examines the role and effectiveness of locacal institutions in the management of forest biodiversity in New Dabaga-Ulongambi Forest Reserve, Tanzania. Data were obtained through questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, participatory rural appraisal and field observations. The study revealed that the most remarkable local institutions connected to forest biodiversity management include: Village Natural Resources Man- agement Committee (92%), tree nursery group (79.4%), beekeep- ing groups (61.1%), fish fanning (43.3%), livestock rearing group (33.9%). Main activities carried out by local institutions which directly contribute to the sustainability Of forest reserve include: forest patrols, fire extinguish, preparation of fire breaks, plant- ing of trees along the forest boundaries, creation of awareness, arresting of forest defaulters, participation in income generation activities. For the purpose of realization that local communities are capable of managing forest biodiversity through their traditional institutions, the policy should provide tangible opportunity for local communities to meet their needs as they manage the forests.展开更多
This study presents research results which comprise the following selected communities: Phalaridetum arundinaceae, Alopecuretum pratensis, community with Deschampsia caespitosa, Holcetum lanati, Lolio-Cynosuretum, co...This study presents research results which comprise the following selected communities: Phalaridetum arundinaceae, Alopecuretum pratensis, community with Deschampsia caespitosa, Holcetum lanati, Lolio-Cynosuretum, community Poa pratensis-Festuca rubra. The investigated phytocenoses developed in conditions of lack of utilisation, occasional cutting, occasional alternating meadow-pasture utilisation, pastures with uncut left-overs, 2 cuts and light grazing of the sward by cattle and 2-3 cuts. For the above-mentioned communities the following parameters were assessed: total species number and mean number of species in a phytosociological rel6ves besides Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H'), proportion of synanthropic species, natural valorisation number according to Ogwit and fodder value score (FVS). Regular sward utilisation of plant communities exerts a positive impact not only on the natural values as evidenced by the total and mean number of species in a phytosociological survey and higher biodiversity index (H') but it also impacts the sward fodder value scores of meadows and pastures. The strongest negative influence on the floristic composition of meadow communities and their stability is exerted by sporadic, incorrect utilization as it favours taking over of green areas by grass expansive species and development of communities of low natural and use values (community with Deschampsia caespitosa, Ass. Holcetum lanati and community with Agropyron repens). The strongest impact on the maintenance of meadow and pasture biological stability in the examined region is exerted by their regular, moderate cutting or grazing.展开更多
Direct use values of forest ecosystem have been recognized apparently due toits easy and convenient assessment, while indirect use values are usually neglected because they arenot easy to be recognized by the public. ...Direct use values of forest ecosystem have been recognized apparently due toits easy and convenient assessment, while indirect use values are usually neglected because they arenot easy to be recognized by the public. For a nature reserve with forest ecosystem, the mostimportant economic values are the indirect use values, which provide human beings and other livingthings with beneficial services through ecological processes and functions. In this case study, aquantifying framework to estimate the annual indirect use values of forest ecosystem has beenestablished in Yaoluoping National Nature Reserve based on alternative cost method and opportunitycost method. The ecological functions assessed in the study relate to six aspects: soil protection,water conservation, CO_2 fixation, nutrient cycling, pollutant decomposition and disease and pestcontrol. These ecological functions provide an economic value of 86.1xl0~6 yuan (RMB) per year(US$10.37xl0~6), which is 25 times higher than the opportunity cost for regular timber production.This study can contribute to the monetary assessment of indirect use values of forest biodiversityand to the conservation and sustainable use of nature reserves.展开更多
Genista saharae Cosson and Durieu, endemic Saharan Africa, is a spontaneous fabaceae dunes south of M'sila (Algeria). Perfectly adapted to arid and sandy soils, this species is a remarkable plant for dune fixation ...Genista saharae Cosson and Durieu, endemic Saharan Africa, is a spontaneous fabaceae dunes south of M'sila (Algeria). Perfectly adapted to arid and sandy soils, this species is a remarkable plant for dune fixation and thus fights against desertification. The objective of this study is to provide local species to various development programs of steppe ecological systems in nature and therefore ensure the rehabilitation of these species while considering the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable management of biological resources steppe. After a field survey and stratified sampling, the methodological approach has taken into account three types of analysis: a biometric analysis of a population of 100 individuals of this species, the second analysis on its biology at last an analysis of an ecological factor dealing with the accuracy governing the distribution of this species in Maiter Oued in the south of M'sila. The results have clarified the ecology of this species to better understand its biology and to develop statistically a diagnosis on the phenology and morphology of various organs (pods, seeds, leaves) of Genista saharae Cosson and Durieu.展开更多
文摘Plant diversity, animal diversity and ecosystem diversity in the wetland were studied with field investigation and statistical analysis, and then biodiversity of Chen Lake wetland was also valued. The results showed that the reasonable utilization and protection for biodiversity of Chen Lake wetland gave important contribution to improving the regional environment and sustainable development of Wuhan, and even the middle-lower Yangtze area.
文摘lbex (Capra ibex), a first grade protected animal, has not been well studied in China. Surveys were conducted to investigate the distribution of the ibex in the Tomur National Nature Reserve during October--November 2004, July 2005, and October-December 2005. The results were as follows: (1) Out of five valleys, the ibex was distributed in the Qiong-Tailan, Keqik-Tailan, and Muzart Valleys: (2) Ibexes were not observed in the Tomur Valley and Kuzbayi Valley in our surveys, but interview investigations indicated that they may be found here as well. Our results indicated that the nature reserve as a whole is in the distribution range of ibex and it plays an important role in protecting ibex and the alpine biodiversity. However, the uneven distribution pattern can be due to human activities. Therefore, the management of the reserve needs to be improved in the future.
基金Support from projects PAPIIT IN215914 and IV201015
文摘We analyzed the distributional patterns of95 selected species of leptosporangiate ferns inhabiting the Mexican Mountain Component, using grid-cells of one geographical degree as unit areas,applying endemism indices and richness and beta diversity analyses.Distributional data were obtained from several herbaria and specialized literature.Five grid-cells appear to be important for fern species richness, as they contain 35 to 49 species.These gridcells are located in the Sierra Madre Oriental(SMO),Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt(TMVB) and the Sierra Madre del Sur(SMS).Mean richness by latitudinal belts of one degree showed that the belts with highest values are related to the TMVB and SMS.A total of 13grid-cells were recognized as important from theperspective of endemism; most of them are located also in the SMO, TMVB and SMS.The richest gridcells coincided with one of the main centres of endemism for ferns obtained in this study, located in the convergence of the southern part of the SMO, the eastern portion of the TMVB and the northern part of the SMS, reflecting the high humidity existing on the mountain slopes facing the Gulf of Mexico.Some important grid-cells recognized from richness and endemism analyses coincide with Mexican Natural Protected Areas.The beta diversity analysis showed a low degree of similarity among grid-cells, implying a high species replacement, as the result of environmental heterogeneity occurring in the Mexican mountain systems.On the other hand, the spatial analysis suggested a pattern of phytogeographical regionalization comprising twomain areas: the Mexican Transition Zone and the Mexican Central Plateau.Ferns play an important role in the Mexican biodiversity and contributing to the beta diversity of Mexico.
文摘The changes of vegetation compositions, plant species diversity, species important value and succession of plant community were studied on waste dumps in Haizhou opencast coalmine which is located in the west of Liaoning Province, China (41°41(-42°56( N, 121°1(-122°56(E). Four kinds of terraces with different ages (5, 10, 20 and 40 years) were selected for investigation of plants. Total of 63 species of natural colonized plants were recorded on the waste dump and they belong to 23 families. The main families were Compositae (15 species), Fabaceae (11 species) and Leguminosae (8 species), which accounted for 54.0% of total species and play an important role in natural vegetation recovery in waste dump area. The dominant species on 5-, 10-, 20-, 40-year-old terraces were Tribulus terrestris + Echinochloa hispidula + Salsola collina, Echinochloa hispidula + Artemisia sieversiana + Artemisia scoparia, Echinochloa hispidula + Clinelymus dahuricus + Artemisia scoparia + Artemisia sieversiana + Melilotus officinalis, Clinelymus dahuricus+Phragmites communis + Echinochloa hispidula+ Setaria viridis, respectively. According to the important value of species calculated. It is determined that Tribulus terrestris can act as pioneer species on waste dump and Clinelymus dahuricus, Phragmites communis and Echinochloah hispidula are important dominant species in vegetation restoration in Haizhou opencast coalmine. The study results can provide scientific basis for selecting and disposing appropriately plant species and rehabilitating vegetation on waste dumps of coalmine.
文摘The Sanjiang Plain is a vast area of alluvial floodplains and low hills in northeast Heilongjiang Province. It is the largest tract of wetlands in China and East Asia outside of Siberia. 28 wetland nature reserves exist on the Sanjiang Plain, and three of them have been listed as wetlands of international importance to water bird conservation by the Ramsar Convention Bureau. The wetlands of Sanjiang Plain are noteworthy for its rich biodiversity, but they continue to decline in area and deteriorate in quality currently. The main threats or constrains, immediate cause, root cause and required response are analyzed in this paper, and the four aspects opinion such as improvement of watershed management, enhancement of protection and restoration of habitats and biodiversity, alternative livelihoods of rural residents living in and near natural wetland reserve, and reinforcement of capacity building of natural reserves are brought forward as the effective measures for the Sanjiang Plain wetland protection.
基金Supported by Xishuangbanna Tropic Rain Forest Conservation Foundation~~
文摘Xishuangbanna is a multinational region and different ethnic groups have self-owned traditional ways of protecting biodiversity, represented by Dragon Moun-tain and Hil Cemetery, and Temple Forest. As population increases and economy develops, people’s consciousness of traditional culture is fading and both of the number and area of sacred natural sites underwent changes, undermining the role of sacred natural sites playing in biodiversity protection, especial y for species pro-tection and gene exchange.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.40730847,40906063 and 41076090)
文摘In this paper, we assessed the ecological and biodiversity status in the Bohai Sea through a quantitative survey on mac-rofaunal community at 25 stations in Laizhou Bay and adjacent waters in the autumn of 2006.We tested the robustness and effectiveness of taxonomic distinctness as an ecological indictor by analyzing its correlation with species richness and natural environmental variables and by analyzing other ecological indicators (Shannon-Wiener H' and W statistics from Abundance Biomass Comparison curve).Results so obtained indicated that the benthic environment of the study waters in general is not under major impact of anthropogenic disturbance, but some stations in Laizhou Bay and along the coast of the Shandong Peninsula and even in the central Bohai Sea might be moderately disturbed and showed signs of ecological degradation.The taxonomic distinctness measures △+ and Λ+ were independent of sampling effort and natural environment factors and were compliant to other ecological indicators.Further application of the taxonomic distinctness indicator to assess marine biodiversity and ecosystem health on a larger regional scale with historical data seems promising.
文摘Contrast with artificial environment, the multi-level self-organizational system of nature has great gain. Sustain-able material environment should respect nature: non-rubbish and super-cycle quality of natural ecosystem offers the material source of human development, fractal structure of nature offers new field of space and information source to this high-density and information-based society, dissipative structure of nature links the new system of energy with whole ecosystem organi-cally, and life-chain regulation is the base of sustainable life environment. Nature guarantees the physical healthy environ-ment by its all-dimension healthy factor, constructs the mental healthy environment by its quality of co-ordinate and chaos, so that guarantees the whole emergence of sustainable develop-ment on the 'super-science' level. In the view of sustainable development, construction, green economy and human health are basic fields. With the concept of ecosystem regulation, we can relate these fields organically and fulfill the task of human health, welfare and sustainable development. Ecosystem regulation is the base of sustainable development's new para-digm.
文摘Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases and its prevalence is likely to reach epidemic proportions.According to the"two-stage hypothesis"proposed for the pathophysiology of NAFLD,insulin resistance,oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines are among the key promoters of the disease. Here,ginger has been hypothesized to prevent NAFLD or blunt its progression via several mechanisms,such as sensitizing insulin effects,activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγwhich induces adiponectin and down-regulates pro-inflammatory cytokines,changing the balance between adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-αin favor of adiponectin,promoting considerable antioxidant effects and antidyslipidemic properties,and reducing hepatic triglyceride content which can prevent steatosis.The aforementioned mechanisms imply that ginger possesses interesting potentials for serving as a natural supplement for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.Therefore,conducting trials to explore its benefits in clinical practice is greatly recommended.
基金Under the auspices of Nationwide Remote Sensing Survey and Evaluation on Ecological Environment Change in 2000–2010(No.STSN-04-00)
文摘The establishment of nature reserves is a key approach for biodiversity conservation worldwide. However, there is a lack of unified methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of nature reserves, particularly in China, the world′s most populous nation supporting some of the most valuable biodiversity hotspots in the world. In this study, we conducted a long-term and large-scale analysis of the effectiveness of 20 of the earliest nature reserves established in Hainan Province, an island home to among the highest concentration of plants and animals in China. Remote sensing imagery from 1988, 1998, and 2008 were analyzed to investigate the temporal and spatial changes of natural forests in these nature reserves and surrounding areas. We also conducted transition matrix analysis and principle component analysis to identify the driving factors that affect the protection effectiveness of nature reserves. The results were as follows: 1) During the 20-year period from 1988 to 2008, natural forests coverage of the 20 studied nature reserves dropped 2.34 percentage points, whereas the natural forests coverage dropped 11.31 percentage points in a 0–5 km outside reserve buffer and 9.36 percentage points in a 5–10 km outside reserve buffer, indicating a significant inhibitory effect of the nature reserves on the loss of natural forests. 2) Natural forests coverage dropped in 60% of the studied nature reserves during the 20-year period, suggesting a poor protection effectiveness of these reserves, while the coverage proportion showed some increase(0%/yr–5%/yr) in other reserves. 3) Expansion of rubber and pulp forests as part of a booming economy were the main factors affecting the effectiveness of the nature reserves for conserving natural forests in Hainan Province. The results of this study provide an important empirical basis for the protection of natural forests in Hainan Province, which can be used as a blueprint for nature reserve evaluation in other places in China.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.50639070-4 and 30671666)the National Major Program on Pollution Control and Management of Water Body (No.2008ZX07104-003-03)
文摘The changes of microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) and microbial community in the topsoil of the abandoned agricultural land on the semi-arid Loess Plateau in China during the natural succession were evaluated to understand the relationship between microbial community and soil properties. MBC and MBN were measured using fumigation extraction, and microbial community was analyzed by the method of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). The contents of organic C, total N, MBC, MBN, total FAME, fungal FAME, bacterial FAME and Gram-negative bacterial FAME at the natural succession sites were higher than those of the agricultural land, but lower than those of the natural vegetation sites. The MBC, MBN and total FAME were closely correlated with organic C and total N. Furthermore, organic C and total N were found to be positively correlated with fungal FAME, bacterial FAME, fungal/bacterial and Gram-negative bacterial FAME. Natural succession would be useful for improving soil microbial properties and might be an important alternative for sustaining soil quality on the semi-arid Loess Plateau in China.
基金Financial support was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41106094)the Department of Science and Technology Project (BS2010NY030)
文摘As a consequence of global warming and rising sea levels, the oceans are becoming a matter of concern for more and more people because these changes will impact the growth of living organisms as well as people's living standards. In particular, it is extremely important that the oceans absorb massive amounts of carbon dioxide. This paper takes a pragmatic approach to analyzing the oceans with respect to the causes of discontinuities in oceanic variables of carbon dioxide sinks. We report on an application of chemical, physical and biological methods to analyze the changes of carbon dioxide in oceans. Based on the relationships among the oceans, land, atmosphere and sediment with respect to carbon dioxide, the foundation of carbon dioxide in shell-building and ocean acidification, the changes in carbon dioxide in the oceans and their impact on climate change, and so on, a vital conclusion can be drawn from this study. Specifically, under the condition that the oceans are not disturbed by external forces, the oceans are a large carbon dioxide sink. The result can also be inferred by the formula: C=A-B and G=E+F when the marine ecosystem can keep a natural balance and the amount of carbon dioxide emission is limited within the calrying capacity of the oceans.
文摘The impact of human activity on biodiversity is very complicated, making it difficult to design practical indicators for assessment.Currently,state and response indicators are listed within Chapter15 of Agenda21,but no mention is made of driving force indicators and how they relate to biodiversity protection. This paper repre- sents an effort to identify and then operationalize the idea of driving force indicators at national level.Five human induced factors affecting biodiversity were discussed: (a) habitat loss and fragmentation; (b) overexploitation of resources;(c)species introduction;(d)pollution;and (e) climate change. From these five factors, a subsetwas selected to serve as possible driving force indicators:(1)habitat loss, (2)the ratio of exotic species to indigenous ones, and (3)the change in pollution status. Although the three indicators are relatively simple,they coverthe most important human impacts on biodiversity and offer the potential for further redefinition and ultimate use within the spirit of biodiversity protection.
文摘In view of the fact that climate-related disasters are already taking a heavy toll, causing massive damage to crops and infrastructure and forcing some people to flee their homes, however, the potential impacts of climate change are likely to trigger adaptive responses that influence environmental and socio-economic drivers of food system performance in positive as well as negative ways. This paper was conducted through the collection of some research materials with the projected balance of these various climate impacts on food system performance and food security outcomes at the local and global levels. More so that, food security is likely to be affected by climate change in several ways: food security depends not only on the direct impact of climate change on food production but also on its indirect impact on human nutrition and health, economic growth, trade flows and food aid policy. The paper further examined the effectiveness of managing new risks and uncertainty, improving the quality of information and its use, monitoring weather and improving scientific understanding of climate change, promoting insurance schemes, maintaining biodiversity and access to fund as some of the crucial measures for adaptation. The large amount of resources that would be necessary to avoid the worst case scenario suggests the necessity of continued support from the international community to improve food security at the local and global levels as a whole.
基金TAFORI and Forestry and Beekeeping Division through Participatory Forest Management (PFM)grant for funding this study
文摘This paper examines the role and effectiveness of locacal institutions in the management of forest biodiversity in New Dabaga-Ulongambi Forest Reserve, Tanzania. Data were obtained through questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, participatory rural appraisal and field observations. The study revealed that the most remarkable local institutions connected to forest biodiversity management include: Village Natural Resources Man- agement Committee (92%), tree nursery group (79.4%), beekeep- ing groups (61.1%), fish fanning (43.3%), livestock rearing group (33.9%). Main activities carried out by local institutions which directly contribute to the sustainability Of forest reserve include: forest patrols, fire extinguish, preparation of fire breaks, plant- ing of trees along the forest boundaries, creation of awareness, arresting of forest defaulters, participation in income generation activities. For the purpose of realization that local communities are capable of managing forest biodiversity through their traditional institutions, the policy should provide tangible opportunity for local communities to meet their needs as they manage the forests.
文摘This study presents research results which comprise the following selected communities: Phalaridetum arundinaceae, Alopecuretum pratensis, community with Deschampsia caespitosa, Holcetum lanati, Lolio-Cynosuretum, community Poa pratensis-Festuca rubra. The investigated phytocenoses developed in conditions of lack of utilisation, occasional cutting, occasional alternating meadow-pasture utilisation, pastures with uncut left-overs, 2 cuts and light grazing of the sward by cattle and 2-3 cuts. For the above-mentioned communities the following parameters were assessed: total species number and mean number of species in a phytosociological rel6ves besides Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H'), proportion of synanthropic species, natural valorisation number according to Ogwit and fodder value score (FVS). Regular sward utilisation of plant communities exerts a positive impact not only on the natural values as evidenced by the total and mean number of species in a phytosociological survey and higher biodiversity index (H') but it also impacts the sward fodder value scores of meadows and pastures. The strongest negative influence on the floristic composition of meadow communities and their stability is exerted by sporadic, incorrect utilization as it favours taking over of green areas by grass expansive species and development of communities of low natural and use values (community with Deschampsia caespitosa, Ass. Holcetum lanati and community with Agropyron repens). The strongest impact on the maintenance of meadow and pasture biological stability in the examined region is exerted by their regular, moderate cutting or grazing.
文摘Direct use values of forest ecosystem have been recognized apparently due toits easy and convenient assessment, while indirect use values are usually neglected because they arenot easy to be recognized by the public. For a nature reserve with forest ecosystem, the mostimportant economic values are the indirect use values, which provide human beings and other livingthings with beneficial services through ecological processes and functions. In this case study, aquantifying framework to estimate the annual indirect use values of forest ecosystem has beenestablished in Yaoluoping National Nature Reserve based on alternative cost method and opportunitycost method. The ecological functions assessed in the study relate to six aspects: soil protection,water conservation, CO_2 fixation, nutrient cycling, pollutant decomposition and disease and pestcontrol. These ecological functions provide an economic value of 86.1xl0~6 yuan (RMB) per year(US$10.37xl0~6), which is 25 times higher than the opportunity cost for regular timber production.This study can contribute to the monetary assessment of indirect use values of forest biodiversityand to the conservation and sustainable use of nature reserves.
文摘Genista saharae Cosson and Durieu, endemic Saharan Africa, is a spontaneous fabaceae dunes south of M'sila (Algeria). Perfectly adapted to arid and sandy soils, this species is a remarkable plant for dune fixation and thus fights against desertification. The objective of this study is to provide local species to various development programs of steppe ecological systems in nature and therefore ensure the rehabilitation of these species while considering the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable management of biological resources steppe. After a field survey and stratified sampling, the methodological approach has taken into account three types of analysis: a biometric analysis of a population of 100 individuals of this species, the second analysis on its biology at last an analysis of an ecological factor dealing with the accuracy governing the distribution of this species in Maiter Oued in the south of M'sila. The results have clarified the ecology of this species to better understand its biology and to develop statistically a diagnosis on the phenology and morphology of various organs (pods, seeds, leaves) of Genista saharae Cosson and Durieu.